Chapter 2

(YEARS LATER)

HARLEY STEVEN - Twenty years old

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HARLEY

I groaned as the shrill sound of my stepmother's voice pierced through the silence of the early morning, jolting me awake.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw that my room was a disaster - clothes strewn across the floor, the bed unmade, and books and papers scattered everywhere.

"Harley!" my stepmother yelled again, her voice filled with irritation. "Get up!”

"You're such a lazy girl!" my stepmother ranted, her words coming out in a rush. "You're always lying around, sleeping late and making a mess of your room! I've had it with you!"

I sat up, my temper flaring. "It's not my fault I'm tired! You keep me up late every night, making me do all these stupid chores and errands!" I yelled back at her.

There was a sudden silence, and then the door burst open, revealing my father's angry face.

"How dare you talk back to your stepmother like that!" he bellowed.

Before I could say anything, he had strode across the room and slapped me across the face. The blow was so hard that I stumbled backwards, falling to the floor.

I looked up to see my stepmother standing next to my father, a hand on his arm. "Honey, please, it's okay," she said, her voice sickly sweet. "She's just a child, she doesn't know any better."

I hate that she pretends all the time and put me in the wrong. Just after my mother died, My father, Mr Steven went ahead and bring his mistress into this house with her daughter who’s the same years as me!

I hated my father with every fiber of my being. He had always been a distant, cold man, and he had ignored my mother's illness until it was too late.

I had prayed to the moon goddess, begging her to save me from this terrible family, but my prayers had gone unanswered.

I looked up at my stepmother, who had always played the part of the doting mother, but I knew the truth. She had never loved me, and I was nothing but a servant to her and her daughter, Juliet.

"Why is it always me who has to do all the work?" I demanded.

My father took a step towards me, his hand raised for another slap, but my stepmother caught his arm.

"There's no need for that, dear," she said in a honeyed voice. "She's just a child, she doesn't know any better."

My father glared at me, his face twisted with anger.

"You're right, but she needs to learn some discipline. I'm just training her to be a good girl." He turned and stormed out of the room, leaving me alone with my stepmother.

I stood up, my head spinning, my cheek stinging from the slap.

Suddenly, my stepmother's mask of sweetness fell away, revealing the cruel, selfish woman beneath. She let out a cold laugh, her eyes glittering with malice.

"You think this is the worst of it? This is just the beginning, my dear. You'll suffer for defying me, and I'll make sure you never forget it."

With those words, she turned and swept out of the room, leaving me alone in the dark. I sank to the floor, my heart pounding and my mind reeling. I had never felt so alone, so hopeless.

I hurriedly got dressed and ran out the door, knowing I was already late for school. I grabbed my backpack and ran down the street, my thoughts racing.

I had to get through this day and then I could be free - free from my stepmother, free from my father, and free to start my life as an independent adult.

If I’m done with this semester then, I’ll be able to get a job and stand on my own.

I reached the school just as the bell rang, and I rushed to my locker to grab my books.

I could hear the whispers as I passed - the gossip about me being the black sheep of the family. It was spreading like wildfire. I tried to ignore it and focus on the tasks at hand.

As I opened my locker, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Hey, gorgeous!" Matt, my boyfriend, came up and put his arms around me, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

I blushed, feeling the eyes of the other students burning into my back. I was used to the attention, but it still made me uncomfortable. Matt didn't seem to notice - or maybe he just didn't care.

"You look stunning, as always," he said, smiling at me. I could feel my cheeks burning even more.

Matt leaned in to kiss me on the lips, but I turned my head away, my heart racing.

"Let's talk later, okay?" I said, my voice tight. I could see the hurt in Matt's eyes, but I couldn't bring myself to kiss him.

Not in front of everyone, not when they were all watching. He nodded and stepped back, his expression wounded. I hated hurting him, but I couldn't help it - the situation was just too uncomfortable.

I grabbed my books and hurried to my first class, my heart still racing.

I sent Matt a text after class, apologizing for my behavior and explaining how uncomfortable I had felt. I waited anxiously for his response, but it never came.

I tried calling him, but it went straight to voicemail. I was starting to get worried - this wasn't like him. Maybe something had happened? I decided to go to his house to check on him.

As I drove to Matt's house, my anxiety grew. Something felt wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

Matt's house was stunning, like something out of a movie. The lawn was perfectly manicured, and the brick walkway leading up to the front door was pristine.

When I entered the house, I was greeted by the maids, who ushered me up the stairs to Matt's room. I started to feel uneasy as I approached the door - there was a strange feeling in the air.

I pushed open the door and flinched at the sight that greeted me. Matt's room was trashed - the furniture was overturned, the drawers were scattered, and clothes were strewn across the floor.

It was a war front!

As I took in the scene before me, I noticed movement on the bed, and my heart dropped.

I watched in horror as Matt pulled away from a kiss with my stepsister, Juliet. He jumped up, clearly shocked to see me standing there.

“Oh shit!” Matt sweared.